Trump Budget Plan Would Rebuild U.S. Military

President Trump’s proposed budget would boost spending on the military and veterans services in 2018, while cutting back on non-defense spending.

It would boost defense spending by 10 percent over the current 2017 enacted level, and veterans affairs spending by 5.9 percent, according to a White House blueprint released Thursday.

“The budget for [the Department of Defense] ends the depletion of our military and pursues peace through strength, honoring the Federal Government’s first responsibility: to protect the Nation,” it said.

Specifically, the president has proposed $603 billion in total defense spending, which includes funding for the Pentagon and defense funding in other agencies, such as the Department of Energy.

It proposes $574 billion for the Pentagon’s base budget — $19 billion more than what President Obama projected for 2018.

In addition to the $603 billion, the administration has proposed $65 billion in war costs — the same as the current 2017 amount.

The blueprint notes that instead of spending more on war — which it says consumes resources — the administration will “invest in a stronger military.”

The budget emphasizes rebuilding warfighting readiness, after 15 years of war.